Oct 05, 2008 10:17 PM
3487 Views
The Genie in your home!
I got my first credit card from citibank around 2001 and have used it to the most buying stuffs online. I have been a active buyer in Baazee and a few other sites. I have always enjoyed buying things online and would surely continue doing so. Like everyone else thinks online shopping is not a nightmare and in countries like US this is a great thing that is promoted a lot with lot of schemes that encourage online shopping compared to walking in a shop.
Cash transaction could be a nightmare now a days with duplicate notes in market that a bank ATM give out . One of my colleague had to buy train tickets so he had withdrawn some money from a SBI ATM after standing a long queue in the railway reservation counter when he handed over the couple of 500 Rs to the counter guy he came to know that they were not genuine currency but duplicate one. The counter employee asked him to either give some other note or leave the line. Also the collegue came to know that it was nouse challenging the note he got from ATM but to simply keep them as souvenirs or tear them off.
Another problem with cash transaction is to have the exact change . Shop keepers never have money of lower denomination and you would end up buying more to round it off or scout for change.
A Few required things that required
Payments*
A Credit or Debit card that can be accepted or A Paypal account linked up with any of your cards or an online bank account. Now that lots of Indian banks have been computerised and almost all of them offer online banking and debit/credit cards.
Internet connection with a decent speed.
Unless you want to timeout before the purchase is done but the money has been payed off your card. Usually credit card company's return this money back. You should be knowing this incase you ever tried to buy a online ticket through irctc.co.in and your transaction did not go successfully usually the money although have been deducted is returned back in couple of days.
I had a very classic experience when once I tried buying some books online from a site called firstandsecond . com . My checkout payment was for around 32000 and my transaction through by citibank card failed in between so I tried again and succeeded only to know that my card by now had been charged twice the amount 32000+ 32000(since my card limit was 85 k then). Upon contacting the online seller I came to know that I need not be alarmed as the company would send only one bill to my credit card company and my money should be returned t o my card in few days that happened to my relief.
Knowledge of the online sites
There are lots of sites promising to sell things out there online but don't believe in them all. Make sure that you either have a good knowledge of the sites or someone has recommended you of it.
Books - Amazon, FirstandSecond
Of the above I personally like the later as it is an Indian site, comparitively good service. The books have an special Indian reprint rate and their promptness in delivery and tracking items is commendable.
Movie - Bookmyshow or pvrcinemas
Most of these sites do charge a nominal booking charge but if you use any of those credit cards that have offers of 1+1 or% discounts you would be in a good deal. provided you could choose your seats of your convinience if not available in one cinema hall check out the other one and book on whichever suits you.
Tickets - irctc, almost all airlines have their sites now
I really like booking my tickets online as no long lines to stand. No need to worry filling out those forms. No need to get to a tout to help you out. No need to worry about the exact change.
online stuffs - Baazee(ebay now),
The online shops are really cool because while I was in Haridwar I could get myself stuffs for which I would have otherwise go to bigger cities like Delhi to buy them. From electronics to cds to what not all available under one roof. These are the indegenous versions of the circuitcity or bestbuy or costco.
Camera - jjmehta
JJmehta . com offers where competitive pricing of camera and accessories and their delivery and promptness is so good. You could be sure that you have got the best deal for a camera when you go to these guys. I think they operate from mumbai and their serives is good.
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The online shops
Word of Caution
Be it online buying or buying things from stores one should always remeber that a customer should be vigilant but one should be twice the normal vigil in case its a online buy. Make sure that you do not do such purchases from a internet cafe(These guys have key loggers or other things that might store your account details). Make sure that you never say ok to store the password if prompted by the browser. Never let anyone know about your CVV(the 3 digit numerical code behind your credit card). If possible memorise it and then cover it up with a marker pen.
